The Aura sedan is the second piece of the puzzle that promises to reveal, within a short couple of years, a completely reinvented Saturn. Like the SKY roadster introduced earlier in 2006, the Aura is more stylish and more confident than anything Saturn produced in its first 15 years of existence. Although the Aura shares a platform with the Pontiac G6, Saturn's version feels significantly more refined inside, outside and on the road. Later, a gas-electric Aura is scheduled to arrive as GM's first hybrid sedan. Even as Saturn begins unleashing its most appealing cars ever, the automaker has committed to maintaining its popular "no haggle" pricing policy.

You'll Like This Car If...

The Aura's confident styling is backed up by eager handling combined with a comfortable and surprisingly quiet highway ride. An attractive, well-appointed interior and overall sense of refinement solidify the sedan's appeal.

You May Not Like This Car If...

While the Aura boasts the most powerful base engine in its class, the lack of an available four-cylinder engine means a lack of four-cylinder fuel economy. The Aura also faces the still-unenviable task of competing with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, vehicles that have earned and deserve their status as the two best-selling cars in the country.

What's New for 2007

Attractive, refined and enthusiastic, the Saturn Aura is the most convincing Accord/Camry alternative we've seen from any GM brand.

Driving the Aura

Driving Impressions
Despite the athletic styling and eager stance, we weren't sure exactly what to expect from the Aura once we got behind the wheel. Having seen the spec sheet we did...

anticipate a healthy dose of get-up and go from the XR model, but we didn't expect such smooth shifts from the six-speed automatic transmission. The XE's powertrain isn't as refined, but it's more than adequate and downright competitive. The passenger cabin remained notably quiet on the highway, and the Aura handled twisty two-lane roads better than most mid-size sedans this comfortable.

Favorite Features

Panoramic SunroofWhen it comes to sunroofs, bigger is almost always better. The Aura's multi-panel panoramic glass sunroof consists of a front panel that angles up as a deflector and three others that retract and stack at the rear.

Rear-seat Wireless HeadphonesAlthough the Aura doesn't offer a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, it does offer two sets of wireless headphones to accommodate differing music tastes.

2007 Saturn Aura Details

Interior

The Aura's interior is defined by the attractive styling, quality materials and overall sense of refinement that have begun permeating the passenger cabins of more and more domestic entries. There are still details to be polished, but to compare the Aura's interior with that of earlier Saturns is to contrast two different automotive eras. The mere availability of the unique Morocco Brown leather package furthers the Aura's contemporary image. Ambient cabin illumination enhances the upscale feel at night.

Exterior

In addition to the chrome-bar grille serving as the new face of Saturn, the Aura is distinguished by big, expressive headlamps, a sleek profile with sharply defined fender flares and distinctive LED taillamps. Aura XR models have 18-inch alloy wheels (in place of standard-issue 17-inch steel wheels), chrome door handles and front foglamps.

Thanks in part to variable valve timing and the advantage of a six-speed automatic transmission, the Aura XR's more powerful, more sophisticated 3.6-liter engine returns combined fuel economy almost as good as that of the XE's 3.5-liter engine. The XR also offers the added benefit of steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

"I didn't know these cars even existed until I saw it the dealer's lot. We were looking for an SUV for my wife. When I saw the excellent body styling comparable to much higher-end midsize cars, high performance motor and suspension, 6 speed paddle shift auto trans, power leather heated seats, power moon roof, 5 CD changer, 18" aluminum wheels w/low profile tires and remote start, I bought it on the spot and got a flaming deal. Then I drove it. Wow!! It really moves and handles. I've had it 5 years and it's still worth $5000 more than I owe. Very little maintenance and it still looks current. This is the way cars ought to be, good looking, high fun, low maintenance and low cost. If Saturn had introduced these cars a few years earlier maybe they wouldn't have gone out of business."

"Very pleased with the almost 8 years of ownership of this car.Very reliable and low maintanence.I needed tires after 65K...most people say that is great. Never had a problem with the exhaust system. All around great car."

"Reasonably well performing car, the 3.5 V6 has plenty of pick up, and the body style is still stylish by today's standards. Gas mileage is average for a big V6, and the car's interior is fairly cheap like that found on many GM cars. But overall value is good. The price was right, and the car has been very reliable with minimal service (mostly oil changes, which are super-easy to do yourself on this car, and fluid top-offs).
The car's rotors were not engineered to be adequate on the front in my estimate. I went through 2 sets of rotors on the front tires because of constant warpage. I finally purchased a higher end rotor with pre-drilled/slotted characteristics and it's been fine ever since."

My car was a nightmare!!

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating

5/10

Value

5/10

Reliability

7/10

Quality

5/10

Performance

8/10

Styling

10/10

Comfort

8/10

Pros: "Very stylish"

Cons: "$$$ eater"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 2

"I purchased a used saturn aura about 3 years ago with less than 40,000 miles on it. Reading the other reviews for this car, I feel I must have gotten a lemon or the owner before me took very bad care of the car. In less than 3 years, I put about $8,000 into this car. Needed a new transmission, new tires almost every 6 months (costing over $1000), new brakes constantly, and the gas mileage was way worse than I was expecting! I just sold it for less than $5,000, when the KBB price was over $7,000. I wouldn't recommend the car, seeing as saturn went out of business. BUt all the other reviews are pretty good, so maybe I just had bad luck!"

Best Vehicle I've owned

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating

9/10

Value

9/10

Reliability

9/10

Quality

9/10

Performance

9/10

Styling

9/10

Comfort

9/10

Pros: "Reliability"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I have a 2009 Aura and I have to say it's the best car I've had to date for looks, reliability and performance. It handles well in the snow and other driving conditions. I really feel it was a good choice for me . I feel safe in the car and feel I got my money's worth . I wish they were still made."